Real Madrid star Gareth Bale can become one of the all-time greats - Gary Lineker

Gareth Bale has been hailed as one of the best British players ever by Gary Lineker

That is the view of former England striker Gary Lineker, who will host BT’s coverage of what could be a Champions League homecoming for Bale.

The Welsh wizard is back in training and desperate to return from a calf injury in time to help Real Madrid take on Juventus in the biggest game in the Cardiff final.

Lineker said: “I’m sure he really wants to be part of this game, in his hometown. He’s had his share of injuries this season, which is a shame.

“But overall at Real Madrid, he’s proven himself as a world-class player. Hopefully he’ll play some part.

“I’d put him up there with the best British players of all time”

BT Sport pundit Gary Lineker

“I’d put him right up there with the best British players of all time. He’s got to be in certainly the top 10.

“You can only really judge people you’ve seen in your time. I didn’t catch much of George Best and Bobby Charlton, but obviously they’d have to be right up there.

“In my time, Kenny Dalglish I would certainly put in there. I’m a bit biased. Bryan Robson - but again he suffered a bit with injury.

“Glenn Hoddle if he’d been playing for a different country. Gazza nearly. In terms of ability certainly but he struggled with injuries so much that it impacted his overall career.

GETTY

Gareth Bale won his first La Liga with Real Madrid this season

“I’d put Peter Beardsley in because he was so good for me, purely for selfish reasons.”

Bale has already won five trophies in four years at Real and is hoping to land his third Champions League winners medal at the Principality Stadium.

Lineker said: “He’s won a lot of things, helped Wales be more successful than they’ve been in a long time, than ever probably, and he’s playing for one of the giants of world football, so he’s right up there, and still in his prime.

“I’ve always loved him as a player; he’s a wonderfully-gifted footballer. Pace, technique, two feet, finishing. Scorer of great goals. Can beat people. Good in the air.

The eight Real Madrid stars who could be on their way this summer

SPANISH publication AS has named four players who will be leaving Real Madrid, and four more who are not guaranteed to stay for next season.

1 / 8

GETTY

Gareth Bale - not guaranteed to stay

“He’s got all those kind of abilities that the very best have. You have to prove at some point you can do it where it really counts. We’d seen him do it a lot of times in club games.

“All of a sudden to do it in games of that importance just shows he’s got what it takes mentally as well.

“That’s always the little bit on top that you need to deal with the big occasion, to have the nerve to stand up and perform on the biggest stage. He’s done that countless times.

“I expected him to be successful. I bigged him up on Twitter when he was at Tottenham and got a lot of stick for it.

“He does tend to get injured a bit. Some players are lucky that way, some aren’t. Aside from that, he’s had a brilliant time at Real. He’s realised the potential we all saw in him.”